LITERARY NOTICES. 



565 



Glass lias been revised and greatly en- 

 larged for the fifth edition by the Rev. T. E. 

 Espin, and is now published by Longmans, 

 Green k Co. in two volumes. Preparatory 

 to beginning his work on the new edition 

 the author invited suggestions from ama- 

 teurs, obtained advice from the Asti'onomical 

 and Statistical Society of Toronto, and re- 

 ceived assistance from special students of 

 the sun, the moon, the planets, the comets, 

 and meteorites. The original text has been 

 left unaltered as far as possible, and the new 

 matter added is placed in footnotes. The 

 catalogue of Struve has been used as a basis. 

 The objects have been arranged in the order 

 of their right ascensions in the constella- 

 tions. 



The most important event mentioned in 

 the Report of the Harvard Astronomical Ob- 

 servatory for 1893 is the completion of the 

 new fireproof brick building, and the trans- 

 fer to it of about 13,000 stellar photo- 

 graphs. The entire income of the Paine 

 fund has become available for the use of the 

 obsei'vatory. Photographing celestial ob- 

 jects under the Henry Draper memorial con- 

 tinues. The most important object taken is 

 a new star in the constellation Norma, July 

 10th, which has a spectrum appearing iden- 

 cal with that of Nova Aurigaj. A higher 

 meteorological station has been established 

 in Peru than even Chachani. It is on the 

 summit of the volcano El Misti, 19,200 feet 

 above the sea. The latest publications of 

 the Annals of the Observatory received by 

 us are Vol. XIX, Part I, Researches ou the 

 Zodiacal Light and on a Photographic De- 

 termination of the Atmospheric Absorption ; 

 Vol. XXV, Comparison of Positions of the 

 Stars between 49 50' and 55" 10' North 

 Declination, between 18*70 and 1884, by W. 

 A. Rogers ; Vol. XXIX, Miscellaneous Re- 

 searches made during the Years 1883-93 ; 

 Vol. XXX, Part III, Measurements of Cloud 

 Heights and Velocities at Blue Hill Meteoro- 

 logical Observatory, by H. H. Clayton and S. 

 P. Ferguson ; Vol. XXXI, Part II, Investi- 

 gations of the New England Meteorological 

 Society for the year 1891 ; Vol. XL, Part 11, 

 Observations made at the Blue Hill Meteoro- 

 logical Observatory in the year 1892. 



It is only by degrees and with difficulty 

 that the study of natural science has been 

 able to draw away from the domination of 



older subjects of instruction. The early 

 guides in the experimental method unavoida- 

 bly retained too much of the character of 

 text-books. In Laboratory Studies in Ele- 

 mentary Chemistry, prepared by Prof. LeRoy 

 C. Coolcy (American Book Company, 50 

 cents), an especial effort has been made to 

 secure purely experimental study, which is 

 something more than verifying statements 

 found in books. Directions for a hundred 

 and fifty experiments are given, and the stu- 

 dent is told the object of each, but not what 

 he is expected to see. At the close the ap- 

 plication to qualitative analysis of the facts 

 and principles learned is pointed out. 



The Problem of Manfliyht is considered 

 by James Means (W. B. Clarke & Co., Boston, 

 publishers, 1 cents) from the point of view 

 that the solution is to be sought in the prin- 

 ciple of the soaring of birds. The author 

 calls attention to the fact that the feat of 

 safely sliding down a long and gentle in- 

 cline upon an aeroplane has been performed 

 by Otto Lilienthal, of Steglitz, Prussia, and 

 adds that " in order to travel long distances 

 in the air it is only necessary to improve the 

 dirigibility of the aeroplane so that the angle 

 of descent can be brought to a minimum." 

 This can be done by making repeated ex- 

 periments with very simple and inexpensive 

 mechanical contrivances called soaring ma- 

 chines, these to be dropped from a height. 

 Exijeriments with machines of this kind 

 should be encouraged, with regattas and large 

 prizes. With machines made automatic in 

 their steering action, flights like Lilienthal's 

 will be no more dangerous than football, 

 quite as interesting, and far less barbarous. 



A preliminary study of The Derivation 

 of '.he Pineal Eye is published by William 

 A. Locey, of Lake Foyest, 111., in the Ana^ 

 tomische Anzeiger, of Jena. 



The State Library Bulletin, Legislation, 

 comprises a classified summary of new legis- 

 lation, with a subject index, which is prepared 

 by entries on cards made as fast as proofs or 

 advance copies of the session laws can be se- 

 cured. This index is printed at the begin- 

 ning of each year in order to inform legisla- 

 tors and other State officers what of special 

 value in the subject under consideration in 

 the publications of other States is available 

 in the New York State library. The refer- 

 ences in Bulletin No. 4, January, 1894, 



